Rise in diabetes diagnoses ‘will increase NHS burden’

A rise in the number of diagnosed diabetes cases in the UK may place further strain on a stretched NHS budget over the coming years.

This is the view of charity organisation Diabetes UK, following the publication of statistics showing that the number of diagnosed diabetes sufferers has risen by 150,000 to 2.8 million in the last year.

It was also found that the vast majority of sufferers have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, which is linked to obesity, inactive lifestyles and poor dietary habits.

Simon O'Neill, director of care, information and advocacy at Diabetes UK, said this demonstrates the need for government promises to improve UK health standards to be put into action, in order to avoid "spiralling" health service costs.

He added: "We must keep up the mantra of five fruit and veg a day, encourage daily physical activity and warn of the potentially devastating consequences of an unhealthy lifestyle."

Last week, the organisation welcomed the commitment made by the government to maintain funding levels for medical research in its Spending Review.